Fukushima Dai-ichi 2011This web site opens doors to the new bodies of thought, time-tested spiritual practices, and pioneering group methods, that I find to be powerful inspirations to understanding and action. I share these resources in service to the revolution of our time: the "Great Turning" from the industrial growth society to a life-sustaining civilization.http://joannamacy.net/fukushima-dai-ichi-2011.html
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http://joannamacy.net/fukushima-dai-ichi-2011/248-fukushima-dai-ichi-nuclear-crisis-2011.htmlNEWS LINKS - updated 21:09 3/16/2011

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY ~ NOW IS THE TIME ~ TAKE A STAND FOR JAPAN AND THE EARTHDear Friends,

Our hearts go out to the people of Japan who have been devastated by two unprecedented natural disasters only to be ravaged by man-made nuclear catastrophe in the radioactive holocaust transpiring before the eyes of the world.

People all over our beautiful Earth have been glued all weekend to TV, e-mail and YouTube, for a hard lesson in the workings, and failings, of nuclear reactors. At this moment, three reactors have been wrecked at Fukushima Daiichi on the northeast coast of Japan. Breaking news is that all coolant has been lost to the Unit 2 core and meltdown is imminent. Time will tell if the reactor vessel and containment will hold. At this time six reactors are in emergency mode.

Nuclear Watch South has held vigil with our global activist community watching, praying, and seeking understanding of what is happening with spotty news from the other side of the globe. We have watched the nuclear industry attempt their well funded spin in the mainstream media and understand that THIS IS THE TIME to redeem Japan’s tragic situation by STOPPING NUCLEAR POWER which all thinking people can clearly see is UNACCEPTABLY RISKY. We don’t need nuclear-generated energy because we can harvest the sun and the wind.

We have collected the clearest articles and videos available on http://www.nonukesyall.orgfor your study. Experts have researched and prepared an ACTION LETTER for you to send to President Obama and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to PUT THE BRAKES ON NUCLEAR POWER.

UPDATE: NUCLEAR CRISIS IN JAPAN TAKES TURN FOR THE WORSEIMPLICATIONS (AND ACTIONS) FOR U.S. NUCLEAR POWER

Sunday, March 13, 2011, 6:30 pm

Dear Friends,

The nuclear crisis in Japan has taken a turn for the worse this afternoon, as Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) has reported that six to ten feet of the core of its Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor has been uncovered for a considerable period of time despite efforts to pump seawater into the reactor. Moreover, Tepco says it believes water may be leaking and preventing the water from covering the core. According to a translation of a Tepco statement by our Japanese colleagues, "The fuel's integrity has been considerably compromised. We are assessing a considerably serious situation." This unit uses plutonium-based MOX (mixed-oxide) fuel; accident consequences from a reactor that uses MOX fuel are even higher than for a more traditional uranium-fueled reactor.

At this point it is clear there has been some fuel melting at Fukushima Daiichi, probably at both Units 1 and 3. What we don't know yet is whether that will continue or whether utility workers will be successful at preventing any further melting. We hope they are successful and wish them our best. They are working under intolerable conditions and getting exposed to high levels of radiation in their ongoing effort to prevent a broader disaster. We believe that a catastrophic accident still can be prevented.

In all, there remain six reactors in various stages of trouble at two sites in Fukushima. Another three reactors, further north at Onagawa, are in a low-level state of emergency, although the utility there says they are under control.

We are regularly updating the situation as we receive reliable information and posting new relevant documents as we identify them. Check the front page of our website, www.nirs.org, often for these updates.

Implications for the U.S.It would be nice to think that U.S. politicians and authorities will suddenly snap to their senses and begin work to end nuclear power and prevent new nuclear reactor construction. It won't be that easy.

However, one prominent pro-nuclear politician, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) this morning did call for a moratorium on new reactors until any lessons from Japan can be incorporated. And Rep. Ed Markey wrote a strong letter to President Obama calling for a moratorium and other actions (we will post it on our website as soon as it is posted on Rep. Markey's site).

Still, it's going to take all of us working as hard as we can right now to make a real difference.

Beyond that, however, we want to know what your priorities are and help develop a coordinated plan of action. Thus, we are sponsoring two grassroots conference calls this week. The first is tomorrow, Monday, March 14, 2011 at 4 pm eastern time. This will be a "listening" call. We invite you to call in with your concerns and suggestions: we will listen to them and we ask all of you to listen respectfully to each other. The call-in number is 218-237-3840; the code is 110336#.

From that call and the ideas generated, we will put together a second grassroots strategy call later in the week. If you are interested in this second call (date/time have not been set yet), please send an e-mail with your name, organization (if one) and location to us at nirsnet@nirs.org.